I. Introduction
A. General statement of category your figure fits into
B. Introduction of your person
C. General statement of person's importance in their area
D. Thesis statement
Example introduction:
(A.) America has had forty-four presidents. Some are more famous than others. When people think about famous presidents, they usually think of Abraham Lincoln or George Washington. (B.)There is another man who did just as much in improving America: Theodore Roosevelt. (C.) His contribution in both the military and politics changed people's lives, and he also changed how presidents rule today. (D.) To fully understand his impact, people must first know his background and achievements.
II. Background - Birthplace, family, schooling, life-changing events, significant people who influenced them
A. Topic Sentence
B. Birthdate and place
C. Early Childhood and family
D. Young Adulthood, education
E. Adulthood events leading to fame
While this paragraph is essentially a chronological account of your person, please put in explanations of events from your person's life that will contribute to his or her fame. For example, John F Kennedy grew up in a family with a mother (Rose Kennedy) that insisted on debating political events of the day at the dinner table. This influence was a big factor in his interest in politics. TRY TO CONNECT BACKGROUND EVENTS TO YOUR PERSON'S FUTURE FAME.
(In the following example, all sentences that explain the connection of his background events to his future fame are underlined.)
Example Background paragraph:
Theodore Roosevelt's background prepared him for his life in politics. He was born on October 27, 1858 in New York City. Known as Teddie in his childhood, he was a sickly young boy prone to asthma attacks and always had his father take care of him. Three months after his birth, the Civil War broke out and divided his family. His mother was from a Georgia plantation while his father was from an important Dutch family.His father went to Washington, D.C. to work. With his father was gone, Theodore often walked and explored away from his home. He began to develop a love for nature that led to collecting many animals such as frogs, snakes, turtles, and even a seal's skull he took from a discovered dead seal. This led to his lifelong interest and love of nature. When his father returned, his father told him, "You have the mind, but not the body and without the help of the body, the mind cannot go as far as it should. You must make your body." Theodore determined to do as his father said so he spent hours working out every day, and soon he was strong. This determination was a hint of the determined character that made him successful his entire life. At 18, Roosevelt set off for Harvard for education. Two years later, his father died which made him more determined to be successful in his life. He worked hard in school and later attended Columbia Law School. It was this education and training that prepared him and encouraged him to become a politician.
III. Accomplishments
A. Topic sentence - state that your person accomplished many things
B. First example of an accomplishment
C. Explanation of the effect of that achievement
D. Second example
E.Explanation of the effect of that achievement
F. Closing Sentence
Example Accomplishment paragraph:
(A)Roosevelt now started to achieve things as he began his political career as a Republican.(B) He became the assistant secretary of the navy which started his involvement with war. The Spanish-American War had broken out in Cuba, and Roosevelt and his "Rough Riders" were fighting to defend Cuban independence from Spain. His soldiers stormed San Juan and Kettle Hill, and three days later the war was over.(C) After this victory, America took control of Puerto Rico and Guam. (D) Also, Roosevelt became president and was involved in several foreign policy accomplishments. First, he helped secure the Panama canal with the Hay Bunau Varilla Treaty, granting rights to the United States to build and indefinitely administer the Panama Canal. He did this by helping Panama gain its independence when he sent warships to protect Panama from a Columbian uprising in that region. (E) This gave Panama independence and allowed the United States to share in the ownership rights of the Panama Canal.(F) Roosevelt's accomplishments still have an impact on America today.
IV. Conclusion
A. Opening statement that your person had an impact on American culture.
B. Summarize your person's background and accomplishments
C. Relate your person's impact to present day (Why do their accomplishments matter in 21st Century?)
D. End with a powerful sentence relating to the historical category at the beginning of your paper
Example Conclusion paragraph:
(A)Theodore Roosevelt's achievements had a great impact on America at the turn of the 20thCentury. (B) He grew from a sickly child to a powerful leader of the United States. His hard work as a child to improve his physical strength would lead him to have a determination to accomplish many things. His love of animals drove him to create national parks in America to preserve nature and protect animals as well as provide areas for people to camp, fish, and enjoy the outdoors. His military career helped America secure Puerto Rico and Guam as new American territories and helped secure Cuba's independence in the Spanish-American war. As a president, he focused on foreign affairs. His leadership in building the Panama Canal opened up the world to new and faster trade routes. He won the Nobel prize for helping end the Russo-Japanese war. (C) His greatest contribution was a lesson for future presidents that the character of the president and for men,in general, is how America should be judged. He created a model for presidents to be at "center stage" of politics, that is, actively working to improve American society.(D) Theodore Roosevelt's model transformed the presidency into a position of action.
Here is the OUTLINE for your paper:
I. Introduction
A. General statement of category your figure fits into
B. Introduction of your person
C. General statement of person's importance in their area
D. Thesis statement
Example introduction:
(A.) America has had forty-four presidents. Some are more famous than others. When people think about famous presidents, they usually think of Abraham Lincoln or George Washington. (B.)There is another man who did just as much in improving America: Theodore Roosevelt. (C.) His contribution in both the military and politics changed people's lives, and he also changed how presidents rule today. (D.) To fully understand his impact, people must first know his background and achievements.
II. Background - Birthplace, family, schooling, life-changing events, significant people who influenced them
A. Topic Sentence
B. Birthdate and place
C. Early Childhood and family
D. Young Adulthood, education
E. Adulthood events leading to fame
While this paragraph is essentially a chronological account of your person, please put in explanations of events from your person's life that will contribute to his or her fame. For example, John F Kennedy grew up in a family with a mother (Rose Kennedy) that insisted on debating political events of the day at the dinner table. This influence was a big factor in his interest in politics. TRY TO CONNECT BACKGROUND EVENTS TO YOUR PERSON'S FUTURE FAME.
(In the following example, all sentences that explain the connection of his background events to his future fame are underlined.)
Example Background paragraph:
Theodore Roosevelt's background prepared him for his life in politics. He was born on October 27, 1858 in New York City. Known as Teddie in his childhood, he was a sickly young boy prone to asthma attacks and always had his father take care of him. Three months after his birth, the Civil War broke out and divided his family. His mother was from a Georgia plantation while his father was from an important Dutch family.His father went to Washington, D.C. to work. With his father was gone, Theodore often walked and explored away from his home. He began to develop a love for nature that led to collecting many animals such as frogs, snakes, turtles, and even a seal's skull he took from a discovered dead seal. This led to his lifelong interest and love of nature. When his father returned, his father told him, "You have the mind, but not the body and without the help of the body, the mind cannot go as far as it should. You must make your body." Theodore determined to do as his father said so he spent hours working out every day, and soon he was strong. This determination was a hint of the determined character that made him successful his entire life. At 18, Roosevelt set off for Harvard for education. Two years later, his father died which made him more determined to be successful in his life. He worked hard in school and later attended Columbia Law School. It was this education and training that prepared him and encouraged him to become a politician.
III. Accomplishments
A. Topic sentence - state that your person accomplished many things
B. First example of an accomplishment
C. Explanation of the effect of that achievement
D. Second example
E.Explanation of the effect of that achievement
F. Closing Sentence
Example Accomplishment paragraph:
(A)Roosevelt now started to achieve things as he began his political career as a Republican.(B) He became the assistant secretary of the navy which started his involvement with war. The Spanish-American War had broken out in Cuba, and Roosevelt and his "Rough Riders" were fighting to defend Cuban independence from Spain. His soldiers stormed San Juan and Kettle Hill, and three days later the war was over.(C) After this victory, America took control of Puerto Rico and Guam. (D) Also, Roosevelt became president and was involved in several foreign policy accomplishments. First, he helped secure the Panama canal with the Hay Bunau Varilla Treaty, granting rights to the United States to build and indefinitely administer the Panama Canal. He did this by helping Panama gain its independence when he sent warships to protect Panama from a Columbian uprising in that region. (E) This gave Panama independence and allowed the United States to share in the ownership rights of the Panama Canal.(F) Roosevelt's accomplishments still have an impact on America today.
IV. Conclusion
A. Opening statement that your person had an impact on American culture.
B. Summarize your person's background and accomplishments
C. Relate your person's impact to present day (Why do their accomplishments matter in 21st Century?)
D. End with a powerful sentence relating to the historical category at the beginning of your paper
Example Conclusion paragraph:
(A)Theodore Roosevelt's achievements had a great impact on America at the turn of the 20thCentury. (B) He grew from a sickly child to a powerful leader of the United States. His hard work as a child to improve his physical strength would lead him to have a determination to accomplish many things. His love of animals drove him to create national parks in America to preserve nature and protect animals as well as provide areas for people to camp, fish, and enjoy the outdoors. His military career helped America secure Puerto Rico and Guam as new American territories and helped secure Cuba's independence in the Spanish-American war. As a president, he focused on foreign affairs. His leadership in building the Panama Canal opened up the world to new and faster trade routes. He won the Nobel prize for helping end the Russo-Japanese war. (C) His greatest contribution was a lesson for future presidents that the character of the president and for men,in general, is how America should be judged. He created a model for presidents to be at "center stage" of politics, that is, actively working to improve American society.(D) Theodore Roosevelt's model transformed the presidency into a position of action.